Tales of triumph and disaster in the kitchen – fuel for running adventures

Foodie Penpals November

This month I received a York themed parcel. Little did Cat know that I went to University in York and have a Yorkshireman for a husband. I always wax lyrical about the foodie penpals parcels, but this one was a winner from a heart point-of-view as well as from my stomach. Lots of really local treats from York and the area around a letter which started by apologising for the amount of glitter (you can never have too much glitter) and one particular item that made Mr B very happy…

Stop taking photos and let me eat it!

A bonafide Yorkshire Parkin, with a comfortingly short list of ingredients. Made by Lottie Shaw. Sadly I wasn’t fast enough off the mark to check what it tasted like compared to my own recipe, and before I could say “hold that parkin”….. it was gone.

…and about 30seconds later..

In addition to the Parkin there was:Jalfreizi curry mix – earmarked for my treat when Mr B is away. It has all lots of spices and bits mixed in like a flavoured risotto mix and you jus add the meat. yum.Sugar mice – I’ve never actually had these. I’m quite excited… I may bounce off the walls with the sugar rush.Peanut brittle – all for me. I love nuts A mini panettone just ready for Christmas (Cat apologised for the festive nature of the parcel but I was secretly hoping I might get Christmassy things!)A mini chocolate, fruit and nut wreath made by White Rose Bakes who are an artisan confectioner based in York. It was good chocolate and the mixture of pistachios, cranberries and white chocolate drizzle worked really well. I’ll be telling my York-based friends.

Thanks Cat for a really wonderful parcel and for a trip down memory lane.

Started by The Lean Green Bean, Foodie penpals is a way for food bloggers and blog readers to get to know each other, via a lovely parcel in the mail every month. This is Rock Salt has brought it to the UK and Europe. Here’s the rough outline of how it works:

All interested parties in the UK and Europe – bloggers and blog readers alike – sign up by the form available at the bottom of the Terms and Conditions post

Participants are matched on the 5th of the month

Penpals send thoughtful, food related parcels, on or before the 20th of the month. The parcels can include home baked treats, shop bought treats (especially local or unusual things), cake cases or decorations – use your imagination. The parcel must include something hand written – a note explaining the box’s contents, a recipe card, whatever you like. The price limit for the boxes is £10 – this is a limit, the point is not the cost, but the thought (no, really!)

Penpals open their boxes and rejoice!

At the end of the month, everyone blogs about their box, or writes a guest blog post if they are usually a blog reader and not writer. Everyone reads one another’s posts and rejoices some more. Posts are made available on Lindsay’s blog so we can all find each other easily

Ahhhhhhhh…. York (excuse me while I take a LONG trip down memory lane!). I still refuse to buy any tea bags that aren’t Yorkshire Tea. And stick up on Fat Rascals every time I’m back…. What a crackin’ gift box to receive!